I have a 1 year apartment lease which doesn't end until June 1,2009. I have many reasons for wanting to end the lease early, but I don't know if I am able to break the lease and if so,what penalties there are. My reasons for wanting to break the lease are as follows...I found out there is a sex offender living in these apartments which I was never made aware of, cockroaches in the apartment(even from the first day I moved in), I keep finding nails sticking out of the floor, stray cats everywhere, and various other small reasons. I have a 14 month old son and I don't feel like the apartment is very safe for him--the cockroaches,nails and the sex offender. Also, we are having trouble affording everything. Is there any way that I can get out of this lease? If so, how do I go about doing it, what do I say and are there any penalties? FYI, I live in NJ, I am not sure if it varies by state. Thank you so much!!